Arsenal ended a turbulent week on a
positive note by hanging on for a 2-1 victory over Reading at
Emirates Stadium.
Gilberto Silva's penalty early in the second half, after Andre
Bikey brought down Gael Clichy, set The Gunners on their way before
Julio Baptista poked home a second on 62 minutes.
Cesc Fabregas diverted a corner into his own net three minutes from
time as Reading mounted a plucky response after falling 2-0
behind.
With three players suspended as a result of last week's defeat to
Chelsea, The Gunners overcame that hindrance to snap a run of three
defeats in a row.
Arsenal dominated possession for long periods, but their passing
lacked the crispness and fluency which illuminated the Carling Cup
final the week before.
Baptista, looking a tad uncomfortable leading the line, shot wide
from Alexander Hleb's pass, as The Gunners seemed happier when
breaking on the odd occasions when Reading attacked.
One such moment arrived on 12 minutes as, from a Reading free-kick
near the Arsenal box, Hleb set off downfield before passing to
Freddie Ljungberg, who played a one-two with William Gallas only to
be denied by Marcus Hahnemann.
A lull in the action saw the linesman require a change of flag,
while Reading chairman John Madejski was flanked by Chris Tarrant
and Cilla Black in the stands.
Former Arsenal midfielder Steve Sidwell shot straight at Jens
Lehmann before a lapse from another ex-Gunner - James Harper -
should have resulted in the home side taking the lead.
Harper failed to cut out a loose ball in the box, Baptista
unselfishly drew Hahnemann out of his goal before squaring to
Fabregas, who swung and mis-kicked with an open net inviting a
simple finish.
Hahnemann made another good save from Ljungberg at the end of the
first half, but the Swede was adjudged offside in any event.
Arsenal showed a bit more thrust in the early stages of the second
period and Hahnemann needed a flying save to turn away Fabregas'
thumping drive.
On 51 minutes, the break Arsenal wanted arrived as Bikey brought
down Clichy in the box and Gilberto steered his penalty into the
corner of the net.
Their tails up, The Gunners should have had a second goal on 59
minutes as Fabregas' sumptuous pass released Theo Walcott in behind
the defence, but Hahnemann was out quickly to block the youngster's
shot.
From the resulting corner, the Reading keeper was less assured,
flapping at Fabregas' set-piece and needing Glen Little to head
clear at the far post.
Arsenal amply demonstrated their ability on the counter attack on
62 minutes as Reading fell 2-0 behind after forcing a corner at the
opposite end.
The ball was eventually shuffled to Denilson in the centre circle,
who passed it on to Baptista and the Brazilian somehow jinked past
Graeme Murty before poking his shot beyond Hahnemann.
Reading could have salvaged an immediate lifeline, but Sidwell
missed the chance to score against his old club when heading over a
corner from six yards out.
Sidwell then had another opportunity to punish loose defending, but
fired his shot wide of the upright after Arsenal had failed to
clear inside their own box.
The Gunners wanted a second penalty moments later, but Hahnemann
appeared to just get a touch on the ball as Baptista tried to take
it round the American keeper.
Reading set up a nervy finish by pulling a goal back three minutes
from time. Philippe Senderos, having just come on for Hleb, glanced
on a corner and, in sticking out a leg, Fabregas could only turn
the ball into his own net.
With Arsenal's defending becoming increasingly desperate, Sidwell
was presented with another chance to score, but his sweetly-struck
volley drew a fine save from Lehmann at the near post as the hosts
saw out four minutes of injury-time without further
alarm.
